Our View: Keno discussions need to be public

Connecticut lottery officials and the administration claim no decisions made regarding the state’s efforts to introduce Keno

The Bulletin

Writer

Posted Aug. 31, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 31, 2013 at 11:46 AM

Posted Aug. 31, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Aug 31, 2013 at 11:46 AM

Norwich, Conn.

Connecticut lottery officials and the administration claim no decisions made regarding the state’s efforts to introduce Keno to the long list of state-sanctioned gambling games.

There have been reports, however, that as many as 600 current lottery vendors and another 400 bars and restaurants will be selected to host the bingo-type game. Other reports suggest that a revenue-sharing deal has been struck with the state’s two federally-recognized tribes to avoid legal challenges to the state’s operation of the game.

Lottery and administration officials concede that those are issues being discussed -- behind closed doors -- but insist that no final decisions have been made yet.

Republican lawmakers have complained, and rightfully so, that there’s been no communication from the lottery or administration updating legislators on plans to implement the game. Last week, Gov. Malloy called upon lottery officials to be more open, but only after reports surfaced that closed door meetings were being held.

What is disturbing about all this is that it appears to be yet another assault on transparency in government. These are public policy decisions that are being made, minus any public input or public scrutiny.

Adding Keno to the state’s legalized gambling menu was an idea that came out of nowhere in the closing days of the legislative session. It was tucked into the state budget at the last minute. There were no public hearings held, and no legislative debate on its merits.

The budget bill language, adopted along Democratic party lines, projects that the state will collect $31 million in new lottery revenue from Keno over two years -- and that’s after 12.5 percent of total Keno income is shared the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes.

Both tribes claim the state’s casino compact gives them exclusive rights to such games. The revenue sharing plan is intended to avoid the need of seeking a legal clarification to that claim. Given sharp drops in slot revenues, an infusion of state money into casino coffers would likely be welcomed.